Method and apparatus for inserting bottles in boxes



April 7, 1936. E. B. L UcKlE 2,036,42

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E. B. LUcKuE 2,036,421 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR :[NSERTING` BOTTLES .IN BOXES April 7, 1936. f

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liv HIB@i 'I E. E, LUcmE 9U METHOD AND-APPARATUS FOR INSERTING BOTTLES IN BOXES Filed Nov. 12, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Apr. 7, 1936 Partiturv oFFicE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSERTIN BOTTLES IN BOXES Edward E. Luckie, Chester, Pa. Application November l2, 1932, Serial No. 642.39@

Claims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for inserting bottles or thelike in boxes or cases and has particular reference to theplacing of mill: bottles in boxes therefor.

.at the present time milk bottles are placed in position in boxes in which they are transported by a method involving moving the boxes along belts or suitable conveyors and locating the bottles therein by hand. Not only does this :1.1 operation consume considerable time but it requires a large number of workmen to perform this box iilling'operation. The bottles in such boxes are maintained spaced apart by crosswlres forming skeleton partitions. The presence of 1;, these wires reduces the ease of loading the boxes and from the standpoint of design of a mechanism to 'effect such loading creates further dimculties in view of the fact that the mechanism must be capable of acting with precision to prop- ;'o erly locate the bottles in position without danger of breaking the same.

It is the broad object of the present invention to provide a method preferably` carried out in its entirety by a machine by which the loading :l5 of boxes of conventional type is considerably facilitated with a resulting speeding up of the operation and elimination of labor. While the method is preferably carried out in its entiretyby an automatic machine it will be obvious from "'-l the following description that it may be carried out in a semi-automatic manner, certain of the steps being carried out by mechanical elements, while others are carried out by hand.

A further object of the invention is to provide 1li the fully automatic machine indicated above as capable of carrying out the method. In this machine individual bottles are received from a conveyor and are properly located relatively to each other in position to be inserted into a box u which box is automatically `positioned to receive them. Following the insertion the filled box is released and proceeds on its way on a suitable conveyor. k

The more specific objects of the invention re- A" lating primarily to details of construction where- -by the various functions of the machine are most effectively carried out will be apparent from the following description read in conjunction 50 with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the bottle receiving and conveying portion of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of certain of the elements associated with the mechanism of 55 Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is atransverse vertical section show the mechanism of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, having certain parts omitted for clearness, illustrating the relationship of the bottle holding mechanism to the g box or case and its supporting elements;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic elevation illustrating certain driving connections;

Fig. 6 is a plan view partly in section illustrating the bottle assembling and holding mechm anism;

Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the same in its relationship to the box conveyor;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation partly ln section illustrating certain controlling elements; w

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view through the same mechanism;

Figli) is a vertical section taken on the plane indicated by the line lt in Fig. 9;

Figs. 11 and 12 are fragmentary perspective m views illustrating the box positioning and controlling mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrating certain switches structurally shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. lll is a wiring diagram showing the elec- 2g trical connections between the various controlling elements oi the mechanism.

Referring first to Fig. l which illustrates the bottle conveying mechanism, there is illustrated therein a conveyor 2 which may be of any suit- 3a 'able driven type adapted to receive filled milk bott-les or the like which are delivered thereto either by an operator or by the lling machine in any convenient manner. The bottles conveyed by the conveyor 2 are delivered to a table 4 which 3a has a longitudinal extent considerably less than the diameter of the base of a bottle which is indicated in construction lines in Fig. l. A pair of conveyors B are designed to receive the bottle from the table 4 and continue its movement in 4o the same direction as the movement previously 'imparted by the conveyor 2. Located upon an upright shaft 8 between the conveyors B is a switch member lll in the form of a plate provided with concavities of the form illustrated. An arm 45 l2 carried by the shaft 8 is adapted to engage suitable fixed stops i4 so as to limit the movement of the member IIJ to somewhat over 90 as will be evident from the drawing. If the switch member I0 is in the position illustrated when a 50 bottle approaches the same, the bottle will rst engage the lowermost portion of the switch member illustrated in Fig. 1. The switch member, however. is incapable of furthe'i` rotation in a.. 'counterclockwise direction and accordingly the 66 bottle will be cammed transversely towards the belt 6 which is uppermost as viewed in that figure. As the bottle approaches the other end of the switch member I0 it will act upon the end turning it together with the shaft 8 to its opposite position so that the next bottle engaging the same will be moved to a position on the lowermost belt 6. Accordingly the bottles delivered by the conveyor 2 will be alternately directed upon the two conveyors 6. Suitable lateral guides l5 maintain the bottles in position on the respective conveyors. A central partition diverges as indicated at |6 so as to move the bottles from the belts 6 upon similar belts I8 which are moving with the same speed. The guides cause the bottles to be then delivered to switch members 20 similar to the switch member I0' which determine whether the bottles shall move upon the outer belts I8 or the inner belts 6. It will be obvious that the arrangement is such that four consecutive bottles will be distributed upon the different belts so that they advance in groups of four.

Side guides 22 maintain the bottles in position on the outermost belts. Likewise a central guide 23 maintains the bottles on the inner belts.

Located immediately beyond the switch members 20 are movable retaining elements 24 in the form of plates carried by upright shafts to which are secured armatures 25 adapted to be held by electromagnets 26. When the armatures 25 are released by the electromagnets, as will be pointed out hereafter, the bottles may proceed on their way on the various belts.

Beyond the retaining elements are switch devices comprising upright arms 28, secured to vertical shafts 29, arranged to be engaged by the bottles as they pass. Beyond these there are similar switch devices indicated at 30 which are of similar construction to the switch devices 28 and are adapted to be similarly engaged by the bottles as they move under the action of the conveyor belts. Since the two switches are of similar construction only the rst will be described in detail, the two switches being shown in Fig. 13.

The arm 28 is carried by the shaft 29 which has secured to the lower end thereof an arm carrying a pawl 32 normally held against a stop 36 by the action of a spring 34. The pawl 32 acts upon a ratchet disc 38 provided with four teeth. This disc has secured thereto spring members 40 electrically connected together which are arranged to engage conducting posts 42, 46 and 50 disposed about the axis of rotation as indicated. Four of these posts designated 42 are electrically. connected to a line 44. The two posts designated 46 are electrically connected to a line 48 while the two posts 50 are electrically connected to a line 52. The switch just described when given quarter turns by the action of the ratchet mechanism acts, in effect, as a doublethrow switch alternately connecting the line 44 with either line 48 or line 52. function it is illustrated in a simple conventional manner as a single-pole double-throw switch in the wiring diagram of Fig. 14. In the case of the switch 30 four posts 54 are connected to a line 56. Two posts 58 are connected to a line 60 While the other two posts 62 are connected to a line 64. 'I'his switch also serves as a single-pole double-throw switch between the line 56 and the lines 60. and 64. The throws of the arms 28 and 30 are such that the passage of a bottle by In view of this either of the switches will cause the movement of the contact elements through 90.

'I'he bottles from the belts 6 and I8 are delivered upon a table 65. As will be obvious, hereafter, the operation of the machine is such that four bottles are lined up on the table 65 prior to successive operations of the machine, the four bottles located thereon being handled as a. unit.

Related to the table 65 as indicated in Fig. 4 is a box conveyor 66 which may be either of a positively driven or roller gravity type adapted to convey the boxes A in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the bottles by the belts 6 and |8. A guide 68 against which the boxes are yieldingly pressed by a spring member 69 serves to properly align the boxes for the reception of the bottles.

In order to hold the boxes in position for the reception of the bottles, there is provided the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 carried by a xed portion of the frame of the machine.

In view of the fact that the boxes are held by this mechanism, it is preferable to use gravity feed or a roller conveyor of the type illustrated at 66. The box holding mechanism comprises a frame member 10 in which is journalled a sleeve l2 carrying at one end an arm 74 which is provided with a sloping shoulder as illustrated at 16 and an extension 18. The other end of the sleeve 12 carries an arm 80 and also an arm 82, the counterclockwise movement of which as viewed in Fig. 1 is limited by a stop pin 84. A latch 86 in the form of a supplementary pivoted lever urged in a counterclockwise direction by springv88 is adapted to engage the top of the arm 82 to hold it as illustrated in Fig. 11. The lever 86, the movement of which is limited by a stop pin, acts as the armature for an electromagnet 90 which by attracting the upper end thereof serves to liberate the arm 82 and thereby permit the sleeve 'l2 to rotate clockwise.

Extending through the sleeve 12 and journalled therein is a shaft 92 which carries at one end an arm 94 supporting a contact member 98 designed to engage a contact member S6 carried by the arm 80. The other end of the shaft 92 carries a i'lnger |00 which extends to a position approximating the sloping shoulder 16 on the arm 14.

An arm |02 is carried by a shaft |04 journalled in the frame, this shaft also carrying an arm |06 and being urged in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in the figures by a spring |08. The arm |02 is in the same plane as the arm so that it will engage and lift the same under Athe action of the spring |08.

'Ihe action of the mechanism just described in arresting a box will now be briefly described. As the box approaches the retaining devices the electromagnet will ordinarily have been deenergized following an energization thereof so that the member 86 will not engage the top of arm 82 to hold the same downwardly but will rest against the outer end thereof substantially as illustrated in Fig. 12 in which figure, however, the electromagnct is illustrated as energized. In view of this the arm |06 will hang downwardly and arm |02 will by its action upon the lever 80 cause the arm 14 to be in raised position. As the box approaches it will initially engage the arm |00 swinging the same idly. It will then engage the arm |06 which is positioned so as to slide along the upper edge Vof a side of the box. As the arm |06 is raised arm |02 moves downwardly releasing the lever 80 and accordingly the arm 14 will drop by its weight rotating the shaft 12.

The parts are positioned, however, as illustrated so that the dropping of the arm 14 lags to some extent the upward movement of the arm |06 and accordingly the hook or shoulder 16 will not engage the leading edge ofthe box but, instead, this leading upper edge will be engaged by the extension 16. As the forward portion ofthe box passes, the arm 14 will drop to its lowermost position without, however, causing an engagement of the contacts 66 and 68 since, at this time, the lever |00 will be unsupported. As the box now moves further and its rear wall approaches the mechanism, it will be arrested by engagement with the shoulder 16 inasmuch as the arm |06 will still ride along the side upper edge. The slope of the shoulder 16 together with the ofi'- center engagement is such that the tendency of the box to move on or by the conveyor will ordinarily swing the arm 14 upwardly. This, however, is now prevented inasmuch as when the arm 14 moves to its lowest position the latch 86 will move above the arm 82 holding the arm it downwardly. The arm |00 at the time the box is held is swung clockwise so that engagement of the contacts 96 and 98 occurs. Finally 'the box is retained with all of the parts in the positions illustrated'in Fig. ll.

Release of the box is effected by the attraction of the lever 66 by the eiectromagnet 90. This action releases the shaft 12 for clockwise move-- ment and the arm 14 is swung upwardly by the action of the box which will now have been filled with bottles. The extension 18 is provided so that the lever 14'will be held upwardly until the box clears the arm |06 so as to prevent the shoulder 16 from engaging the leading edge o! a subsequent box which will, of course, be engaged when its rear wall approaches the position of retaining mechanism. The extension 16 is located so as to be between bottles which enter the box.

It has now been seen that the mechanism is such as to hold a box in position to be filled and also line up four bottles on the table 65. The electrical connections which insure a proper tim- 'ing will be later described in conjunction with the mechanism as a whole.

As illustrated in Figs. 4 and '7, a frame 0 is vertically slidable on fixed upright guide rods M2. Vertical movements are imparted thereto through the medium of links ||4 connected to levers ||6 carried by a shaft ||8, one of these levers being provided with a counterweight |20 and having an extension in the form of a gear segment |22 which will be actuated as hereafter described. 'Slidable within the frame. ||0 is a sliding frame |24 capable of movement in the direction' of feed of the bottle conveyors. Journalled in this frame |24 is a shaft |26 which is urged in a. counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 4 and 8 by spiral springs |26. The shaft carries discs |30 about which are concentrically curved metallic rails |32 preferably extending within peripheral grooves as indicated. These rails |32 have tangential extensions |34 which are secured at |36 to the sliding frame |24. A plate- |38 is provided with upwardly extending lugs |40 which have openings embracing the rails |64 so that the plate is guided therealong. Ad-

ditionally the plate may be guided within suitable longitudinally extending grooves in the frame |24.

Besides the plate |86 there are three plates |42 of similar form also provided with upwardly extending lugs |44 riding on the rails |34 and adapted not only to engage the straight por-v tions thereof but also the portions extending about the discs |30. The lugs of these plates |42 may engage within openings |46 in the discs so that as they move about the curved portions of the rails they will be held properly spaced by the discs and will by the rotation of the discs be moved about thecurved portions of the rails.

The various plates form between them open'- ings |46 designed to receive the necks of milk bottles, or other similar bottles, to support the same, these openings being smaller in size than the beads at the mouths of the bottles. The peculiar shapes of the openings illustrated, that is, the deviations from circular form, are provided for clearance purposes.

Extending upwardly from the plates |42 are pins |60 which may be engaged by the hooked ends |62 of rods |64 guided for longitudinal sliding movement in fixed elements |66 supported by the frame. The rods |64 are connected at their outer ends by links |66 to cranks |60 carried by a shaft |62 on which is secured a pinion |64 arranged to be driven through gearing |66, |66 and |10 in' a manner which will be hereafter described, the gear |10 being journalled upon a shaft |12.

Pinions |14 are journalled on the shaft |26 being engageable with racks |16 carried by the fixed frame ||0 during the relative movements betweenthis frame and the movable frame |24. Spring pressed pawls |18 carried by the pinions |14 engage ratchets |80, |80 secured to the shaft |26 at opposite ends thereof.

Carried also by the shaft |26 at opposite ends thereof are detent plates |82 each of which is provided with three shoulders as illustrated at |84. Inasmuch as the elements associated with these plates are duplicated only one assembly will be described in detail, this being shown most clearly in Figs. 8 and 6. Escapemcnt pawls |66 are designed to engage the shoulders |64 to prevent rotation of the plates |82 under the action oi the spirall springs |26. Each pawl |66 has associated therewith a bell crank |68 provided with an arm |60 forming the armature of lan electromagnet. One of these electromagnets is designated |92 while the other is designated |93. A spring |69 serves to urge each bell crank away from its electromagnet into engagement with a stop |64. The horizontal arm of the bell crank r is adapted to act upon the cam surface of the pawl |86 to move the same inwardly as it rises under the action of its electromagnet.

A light spring |65 tends to retract the pawl |84 when the bell crank is released by the electromagnet. It may be pointed out that the cam surface |96 may swing the bell crank away from the electromagnet if pawl |86 is pressed outwardly with sufliclent force, for example, by the cam action occurring as the disc |62 rotates clockwise.

Extending from the surface of the disc |62 are pins |96, |66 and 200, the first of these pins being of greater length than the other two. A fourth pin 202 which is shorter than the pins |66 and 200 is also provided. Pins |66, |96 and 200 act similarly so far as an arm 204 is concerned which is journalled upon a shaft 206 mounted in a bracket carried by the sliding frame |24. The

with eight conducting posts 2 I8 connected to provide in `effect a single-pole double-throw switch 2|3 illustrated in the wiring diagram of Fig. 14. The arm 204 is normally urged into engagement with a iixed stop 2|6 by a spring 2|4. By reason -of the fact that the shaft v206 is eccentric to the shaft |26 the movement of any one of the pins |98, |98 or 200 through a third of a revolution of shaft |26 will move the arm 204 through somewhat more than 90 with the result that stepping oi' the switch will take place to alternately connect two circuits as will be more fully brought out hereafter. The pin 202 is too short to engage the arm 204.

An arm 220 urged in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8 by a spring 222 to a limiting position determined by an extension 224 has a portion 226 lying in the same plane as the depending portion 208 of the lever 204. Normally, 220 is held inoperative by a pin 232 carried at the end of an arm 228 secured to a shaft 230 mounted in the frame. lThe pins |98 and 200 are too short to engage the arm 228. Pin |98 however is suiilciently long to engage this arm so that during counterclockwise rotation of the pin |96 it will engage the arm 228 rocking it clockwise and disengaging the arm 220. At such time the arm 220 will be moved by the spring 222 causing the lever 204 to assume for a time a horizontal position as illustrated in construction lines. The pin 202 serves during clockwise rotation of the shaft |26 to engage an arm 238 carried by the shaft 230 and restore the parts to the position illustrated in Fig. 8. A contact element 234 carried by the arm 228 is designed to bridge contacts 236 when this arm is moved clockwise by the pin |96. The contact element 234 is connected to a line and serves to simultaneously connect both of the contacts 2-36 to this line.

The vertically slidable carrying frame has pivoted thereon a lever 240 provided with a bifurcated end engageable with a pin 246 carried by an upright xed member 248. A contact 242 carried by 240 serves to bridge the two contacts 244 during a portion of the operation of the machine. It may be stated in passing that 242 is connected to the same line as 234 while the contacts 236 are connected in pairs with the contacts 244. Accordingly these two switches are in parallel as wil be obvious from the wiring diagram.

The sliding frame |24 carries on its lower side racks 250 engageable with pinions 252 secured to a shaft 254. This shaft also carries a mutilated gear 255 forming the driven member of a pair, the gear being provided with a concavity 258 engageable with the smooth -portion 260 of the periphery of a mutilated driving member 262 carried by a shaft 264 which also carries a pinion 266 engageable by a sliding rack 268 connected through a link 210 with a crank 212 journalled upon the shaft |12 already referred to.' A mutilated gear 214 provided with a smooth portion 215 is also carried by the shaft 264 and engages a pinion 216 having a concavity 211 secured to a shaft 218 to which is also secured a pinion 280 engageable with the gear segment |22 mentioned above. The various portions of the mutilated gears are related in a manner which will be obvious from the description of the operation.

The crank 212 has secured thereto a clutch member 214. A movable clutch member 282 splined to the shaft |12 selectively engages either the clutch member 214 or a second clutch member 284 carried by the gear |10. The movements oi the movable clutch member 282 are eiiected by a forked lever 288 to which motions in one direction are imparted by a spring 280 and in the other direction by the plunger of a solenoid 292, the circuit connections of which are shown in Fig. 14 and involve a relay 296 closing a circuit at 294. The shaft 12 is driven through reduction gearing 285 by a continuously running motor 288.

Contact members 300 carried by the frame member i |0 are designed to be engaged with each other by the action of a member 302 carried by the plate |38. The member 302 causes a closure of the circuit through the contacts 300 when the plate reaches its extreme'position relative to 15 the frame |24. It may be pointed out that the arrangement is such that the plate 38 abuts a portion of the xed frame |0 as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 4.

Two cams 303 and 304 are carried by the crank 212 and are adapted to wipe a flexible spring contact element 306 to cause it to first engage a yielding contact 3|0 and then disengage a ilexible contact 308 which is carried by a spring causing it to follow contact 306 to the left as and 2|5 are for greater clarity illustrated as 35 equivalent single-pole double-throw switches. It will be noted that the various switches 28 are in series with the corresponding electromagnets 28 the combinations being in parallel. The switches 30 are also in corresponding positions', each being 40 alternately capable of closing a circuit through either of the electromagnets |92 and |93. Switches 234 and 242 are in parallel. Switches 96 and 300 are in series with the relay electromagnet 296 which is arranged to close the circuit ,45

through the switch actuatingsolenoid 292.

With the above brief rsum-of the wiring diagram the operation of the machine will be readily understood. Let it be assumed that the machine is in stationary position without any bottles upon the various conveyor belts and without any box in position to receive the bottles. Upon starting the main driving motor 286, or motors, ii more than one is used, inasmuch as the conveyor belts may be operated independently, bottles will be placed upon the conveyor 2 and boxes will be placed upon the conveyor 86 to run in the present instance by gravity to the loading position. The operations involved in arresting a box in position to receive the bottles has already been described.

As is indicated in Fig. 11 the presence of a box in proper position results in the closure of the switch 96.

Prior to the time of passage of any bottles past the switch members 20 the circuit arrangement 65 will be as indicated in Fig. 14 or the alternate corresponding position. In the case illustrated, since the switch 2|5 engages the righthand contact the electromagnets 28 will be deenergized and consequently the retaining arms 24 will be freely mov- 70 able to permit bottles to pass. The various switches 28 will occupy the upper positions illustrated. At the same time the switches 30 will occupy the lower positions, it being understood that the terms upper and lower and the like engagement of 30 aosam are used not to describe actual conditions of physical switches but the positions of the equivalent switches in the wiring diagram. The electromagnet"` |93 is energized while electromagnet |92 is deenergized. Asa result the disc |62 and consequently the shaft |26 are held against the tension of springs |20, the plates |42 occupying positions about the discs |30 with their lugs |44 engaged within the openings |46.

The first bottle entering the apparatus will pass above the uppermost switch 20 as viewed in Fig. l. It will pass freely the retaining arm 24 and will immediately thereafter actuate the corresponding switch 28 moving it down as viewed in the wiring diagram and thus energizing the electromagnet 26. As a result, no subsequent bottle can pass the position of the arm 24 since the electromagnet will hold this arm in its retaining position. 'I'he bottle will further proceed and energizel switch 30 moving it upwardly and thereby opening one of the four parallel contacts maintaining the electromagnet |93 energized.

The second bottle will pass above the lower of the switch plates 20 and will effect a similar action of the switches 28 and 30 corresponding thereto. The third and fourth bottles will effect similar operations. When the fourth bottle passes, however, the circuit through the electromagnet |98 will be broken and consequently the pawl |86 held thereby will be released. Four bottles are now in position upon the platform 66. As release of the pawl |86 corresponding to the electromagnet |98 occurs the shaft |26 will be rotated by the springs |28. This rotation will cause the first of the plates |42 to be moved to the straight portion of the tracks |84 to engage the necks of the four bottles and move them off the table 65. At this time, as will be evident from the description of the termination of the operation, the plate |38 will be in a position just forwardly of the table 66 so that it will be engaged by the plate |42 and the openings |48 will be formed so as to suspend the first four bottles. The movement of the shaft 26 is not alone depended upon to move the plate |42. In addition the hook members |52 engage the pins |50 of the first of the plates |42 to move the same into position, these hooks being continuously reciprocated by reason of the fact that the spring 290 maintains the movable clutch member 282 engaged with the clutch member 204 to drive the train of gearing |10| 64.

As the shaft |26 revolves, the pin |96 moves the I arm 204 changing the position of the switch 2|5 to the left as viewed in Fig. 14. As a result, the

. electromagnet |92 is immediately energized inasmuch as the switches 30 are now in their upper positions. Accordingly the pawl |86 corresponding to the electromagnet |92 is moved inwardly in position to engage and stop the shaft by engagement with the next shoulder |84. The shaft |26 accordingly makes a part of a. revolution and comes to rest. The pin |96 rides off the end of the lever 204 and consequently the -lever returns N to its vertical position adjacent the next pin 200 initially assumed, the electromagnet |92 rather than |93 being now energized.. It is obvious. therefore, that the passage of the next four bottles will effect corresponding operations with the result that at the end of the shaft |26 will have imparted thereto another third revolution and the second series of bottles will be held between the first and second plates |42, the plate |38 bel ing correspondingly advanced so that the rst series of bottles are still held. After the second group of four bottles takes its position, the switches will occupy the first positions and the last group of four bottles will effect the same results as the first group.

As the shaft |26 has imparted thereto its last third of a revolution the third plate |42 engages the last group of four bottles with the result that after the hooks |62 act, all of the bottles will be held over the case, which is in receiving position, vertically above their final positions.

In the last part of a revolution of the shaft |26 the long pin |96 will be moving through the lower portion of its arc. It will accordingly engage the arm 228 closing the switch 234 which, in effect, results in a. short circuiting of the switch 2|6 and causes the electromagnets 26 to be energized irrespective of the positions of the switches 28. The switch 2|6, it may be pointed out, would be at this time in position to open the circuits of these electromagnets. As a result new bottles are prevented from entering upon the table 06 during the period when the bottles already in loading position are being placed in the case. The parallel switch 242 is at this time open because the lever 240 will occupy its extreme clockwise position inasmuch as the frame i I0 is raised.

When the hook members |52 finally act upon the pins of the last plate |42 the member 802 will close the contacts 300. Inasmuch as switch 96 is already closed the circuit through the relay 296 is closed and the solenoidA 292 is energized to shift the clutch member 282 to the left as viewed in Fig. 5 so that rotation of the crank 212 begins. The crank 212 rotates clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4. It is to be noted that the series arrangement of the switches 96 and 300 insures that the crank will not be brought into operation until both the bottles and the cases are in proper position for the loading operation,

Since contacts 306 and 308 are engaged, the coincident closure of switches 98 and 300 results in energization of solenoid 292 without the need for relay 290. The relay is provided, however, to maintain the solenoid energized during a subsequent period when 300 is open as will be indicated below. By closlng the circuit at 294 both 292 and 296 are energized irrespective of switches 800 and 96 'so long as contact is made between 306 and 308. As has already been noted 309 engages 3|0 beforeI disengaging 308 so that the electromagnet 90 is energized momentarily receiving current through 294, 808, 306 and 8|0.

' freely pass it without engagement therewith.

Referring now more particularly tov Fig. 4 the smooth portion 260 is now in engagement with the concavity 258 so that a considerable counterclockwise movement of the shaft 264 will take 'place prior to the movement of the shaft 264.

Immediately upon initiation of movement of the rack 268 however the segment |22 is swung counterclockwise by the pinion 200 and consequently the frame |10 is lowered bringing the bottles into position in the openings formed by the spacing wires in the case the position being however somewhat short of the bottom of the case so that eventually they will drop through a short distance into position. The lower position corresponds to the engagement of smooth portion 215 of gear 214 with concavity 211 of gear 216 whereby the segment |22 remains stationary. When the frame ||0 reaches its lowermost position the racks 250 will engage the pinions 252 which up to the time of engagement are stationary. Immediately following engagement the teeth on 252 will engage the teeth on 256 and consequently the shaft 254 will be given a clockwise rotation. The sliding trame |24 will thus be moved to the right as viewed in Fig. 4. As this movement takes place the plates |38 and |42 are prevented from movement therewith by engagement of the plate |38 with a transverse member of the frame ||0. The shaft 26, however, moves forwardly with the frame |24 and gears |14 are engaged with the racks |16 carried by the frame H0. Accordingly as the shaft |26 moves to the right it rotates clockwise due to the action of the pawls |18 upon the ratchets |80. The springs |28 are thus wound up while the pins |96, |98 and 200 pass the arm 204. 'I'he action of pin 202 on arm 238 breaks the contacts at 236 but previously the contacts at 244 were engaged by 242 during the downward movement of the frame ||0 so that the other circuit conditions remain unchanged. Inasmuch as if any reverse movement of the gear |14 occurs the shaft |26 will be arrested by one of the pawls |86, the spring will be maintained under tension. During the winding operation the pawls were of course forced outwardly by the camming action of the peripheries of the discs |82.

As the discs |30 are rotated during this movement of the frame |24 to the right the plates |42 are successively picked up, lugs |44 entering the openings |46 so that they are moved about the curved portions of the tracks. As a result of this action the groups of bottles are successively dropped into the case.

Following the extreme righthand movement of the frame |24, as the crank 212 passes its dead center position, reversal of the movement takes place. In this reversal the slide |24 moves t0 the left carrying with it the plate |38 so that the switch 300 is opened. The circuit through 294 however remains closed as pointed out above.

At some time following release of the bottles, cam 303 causes contact 306 to engage 3|0 effecting release of the box.

Following completion of the reversal movement of the frame |24 the segment |22 is swung clockwise and the frame is raised. As the frame nears the end of its upward movement the pin 246 is engaged by the bifurcated lever 240 with the result that contact between 242 and the elements 244 is interrupted. As a result the switch 2|5 is the only connection between its side of the line and the various elements of the electric circuit involving the magnets 26. As noted above, the position of the switch at this time is such that the electromagnets 26 will be deenergized and accordingly new bottles may proceed -past the position of the retaining arms 24 on their way to the table 65. As the dead center position of the crank 212 is approached the cam 304 engages the contact 306 to break its engagement with 308 so that the electromagnet 296 is deenergized and its armature 284 dropped breaking the circuit through the solenoid 282. When this takes place the clutch 282 is moved by the spring 290 with the result that the crank 212 is disconnected from the driving motor and the gear train |10| 64 is again connected thereto. The overrun of the crank 212 serves to disengage the cam 304 from the contact 306 which springs back to its original position engaging contact 308. At the time the box is released contact at 98 is broken and accordingly all of the parts are in their original positions for a repetition of the operation.

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine for placing bottles or the like in boxes including means for supporting successive groups of bottles, means for successively engaging the necks of groups of bottles on said supporting means to support in association, a plurality of groups and means for lowering the bottles so associated into a box.

2. A machine for placing bottles or the like in boxes including a plurality of devices for holding groups of bottles in associated relationship by the necks thereof, means for actuating said devices to cause them to carry the bottles to positions for entry in a box, and means for successively disengaging said devices from the bottles to successively release groups of the latter.

3. A machine for placing bottles or the like in boxes including means for supporting successive groups of bottles, means for successively engaging the necks of groups of bottles on said supporting means to support in association a plurality of groups, means for lowering the bottles so associated into a box, and means for successively releasing the groups of bottles into positions in the box.

4. A machine for placing bottles or the like in boxes including means for supporting successive groups of bottles, a plurality of devices movable to engage successive groups of bottles at the necks thereof to support in association a plurality of such groups, means for lowering said devices to locate the bottles so associated Within a box, and means for successively releasing said devices from the bottles.

5. A machine for placing bottles or the like in boxes including means for advancing bottles in random succession, means for guiding successive bottles so advanced in different paths to form linear groups extending transversely of the paths, means detaining subsequent bottles during the formation of groups to space such subsequent bottles from the bottles of a group, said detaining means being rendered inoperative after the completion of the formation of a group, means for moving a formed group as a unit, means for successively associating subsequent groups with said group laterally of it extent, and means for locating the associated groups in a box.

6. A machine for placing bottles or the like in boxes including a plurality of devices for holding the bottles in associated relationship by the necks thereof, said'bottles when so associated being arranged in linear groups with said devices extending between said groups and each engaging the bottles of two groups. means for actuating said devices to cause them to carry the bottles to positions for entry in a box, and means for successively disengaging said devices from the groups of bottles to release said bottles.

7. A machine for placing bottles or the like in boxes including means for supporting successive linear groups of bottles, means for successively engaging the necks of such groups of bottles on said supporting means to support in association a plurality of groups in predetermined spacing from each other, means for lowering the bottles so associated into a box, and means for successively releasing .the groups of bottles into posi- 10 tions in the box.

in boxes including means for supporting successive linear groups of bottles, a plurality of devices movable transversely to said groups to engage successive groups of bottles at the necks thereof to support in association a plurality of such groups with the devices located between them, means for lowering said devices to locate the bottles so associated within a box, and means for successively releasing said devices from the bottles after such location. EDWARD B. LUCKIE. 

